AP Biology: Chapter 3: Organic Chemistry

Carbon skeleton

The chain of Carbon atoms covalently bonded together in a organic molecule

Carbon chain length

The number of Carbon atoms bonded together in a Carbon skeleton

Isomers

Molecules with the same chemical formula (composed of the same number of atoms of the same elements) but with different structures / arrangements

Structural isomers

Isomers that vary in the locations of where the covalent bonds are between Carbon atoms

Unbranched isomer

An isomer that has all of the Carbons bonded in a line so that no Carbon has no more than 3 other Carbons bonded to it

Branched isomer

An isomer that has at least one Carbon that is bonded to more than 2 other Carbon atoms at once

Carbon rings

A molecule that has a Carbon skeleton that is in a shape of a loop where there is no specific beginning or end

Geometric isomer

Isomers that vary based on the relative locations of the atoms / groups around double bonds

Cis-isomers

An isomer that has the same types of atoms / groups on the SAME side of the double bond

Trans-isomer

An isomer that has the same types of atoms / groups on DIFFERENT sides of the double bond

Enantiomers

Isomers that are mirrored images of each other

Functional groups

A group of atoms that give a molecule new properties / functions when they are attached to the molecule's structure

Hydroxyl group

The main group that allows for monomers to perform dehydration synthesis and bond together

Organic macromolecules

Really large Carbon based molecules

Monomers

The smallest building blocks that are bonded together to form macromolecules

Dimers

Two monomers bonded together via dehydration synthesis

Polymers

Three or more monomers bonded together via dehydration synthesis

Dehydration synthesis

The process of removing the equivalent of a water molecule from multiple monomers to cause them to bond together

Hydrolysis

The process of splitting multiple monomers apart that have been once undergone dehydration synthesis by readding the water molecule

4 Major Classes of Organic Macromolecules

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

Carbohydrates' primary function

Provides a primary source of energy

Monosaccharide

The term for a monomer of a carbohydrate

Disaccharide

The term for a dimer of a carbohydrate

Polysaccharide

The term for a polymer of a carbohydrate

Glycosidic linkage

The term for a bond formed through dehydration synthesis of a carbohydrate

Simple sugars

General term for monosaccharides and disaccharides, used for immediate, short-term energy

Complex carbs

General term for polysaccharides, used for storage of energy

Starch vs glycogen

Starch is found in plants, glycogen is found in animals; starch is in the form of a long, singular glucose chains, glycogen is in the form of branching chains

Structural polysaccharides

Polysaccharides that have been formed in a way that makes it very difficult for the bonds to be broken

Lipids

Organic molecules that are nonpolar and hydrophobic, like fats ; serve as a less-readily available source of energy

Ester linkage

The term for a bond formed through dehydration synthesis of a lipid

Fats and oils

Lipids that are made up of a glycerol backbone bonded together with a fatty acid ; the first is solid, the second is a liquid

Carboxyl group

One Carbon atom that is double bonded to an Oxygen and single bonded to a hydroxyl

Glycerol backbone

A carbon chain with hydroxyl groups one one side and hydrogen atoms across the other side and the end ; hydroxyl groups bond with carboxyl groups

Fatty acid

A carboxyl group plus a hydrocarbon

Fatty acid chains

The long glycerol backbone that is bonded to the fatty acid

Saturated fatty acid chain

A fatty acid chain that has the maximum number of Hydrogen atoms possible on the glycerol backbone

Unsaturated fatty acid chain

A fatty acid chain that does NOT have the maximum number of Hydrogen atoms possible on the glycerol backbone due to double bonds between multiple Carbons

Triacylglycerol

Glycerol backbones that have been ester-linked 3 times

Adipose tissue

The storage of triacylglycerol, typically in the form of body fat

Phospholipids

A glycerol backbone that has 2 ester linkages with other molecules and a phosphate group in place of one of the Hydrogens on the other side

Amphipathic

The property of a molecule having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts

Steroids

Carbon links joined together and regulates hormones

Cholesterol

The steroid that produces other steroids

Proteins

Macromolecules with many, many different functions and is involved in every function of life

Amino acid

The term for a monomer of a protein

Dipeptide

The term for a dimer of a protein

Polypeptide

The term for a polymer of a protein

Amine / amino group

One Nitrogen and two Hydrogens

"R" placeholder on a protein

The individual group that gives each protein its own structure (20 different ones)

Peptide bond

The term for a bond formed through dehydration synthesis of a protein

N-terminus

The end of a di/polypeptide that has the amine / amino group (Nitrogen)

C-terminus

The end of a di/polypeptide that has the carboxyl group (Carbon)

Primary level of protein structure

The order of the various types of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds

Secondary level of protein structure

The overall structure that is formed due to the Hydrogen bonding of the protein that holds it together

Alpha-helix

The coil like structure of a protein

Beta-pleated sheet

The zig-zag like structure of a protein

Tertiary level of protein structure

The overall structure caused by the various interactions at different amino acids that are NOT adjacent to each other (like hydrophobic interactions, H-bonds, and disulfide bridges)

Disulfide bridges

The strongest type of interactions at the tertiary level of protein structure

Quaternary level of protein structure

The structure caused by multiple different polypeptides interacting with each other that are NOT bonded together due to peptide bonds

Lock and key (conceptual)

The idea that each type of protein is precise and is the only protein that operates in that way due to its unique structure

Denaturalization

The separation of proteins that make them unable to function

Enzymes

The biological catalysts that allow reactions to happen at a faster rate

Nucleic acids

The primary macromolecule responsible for a lot of genetic related properties

Nucleotide

The term for a monomer of a nucleic acid ; formed from 5 sugars with a phosphate group and a Nitrogenous base (A, T, C, etc.)

Dinucleotide

The term for a dimer of a nucleic acid

Polynucleotide

The term for a polymer of a nucleic acid

Phosphodiester linkage

The term for a bond formed through dehydration synthesis of a nucleic acid

Purine nitrogenous bases

Adenine (A) and guanine (G) nitrogenous bases that have 2 rings

Pyrimidine nitrogenous bases

Cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U) nitrogenous bases that have 1 ring

Number of Hydrogen bonds between adenine and thymine nitrogenous bases

Adenine and thymine bond with 2 hydrogen bonds

Number of Hydrogen bonds between cytosine and guanine nitrogenous bases

Cytosine and guanine bond with 3 hydrogen bonds